Birth outcomes of Hispanic women and risks or strengths associated with ethnicity and Texas border residence.

OBJECTIVE

To assess Hispanic ethnicity, border residence, or their interaction for association with risk of high gestational weight gain (GWG) and related outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of 2009 birth data.

SETTING

Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included 146,458 Hispanic and 104,399 non-Hispanic (NH) White women.

METHODS

We used adjusted odds ratios (AOR) in logistic regression analyses to test the association of Hispanic ethnicity, border residence, and their interaction with high GWG, cesarean birth, macrosomia, and breastfeeding status at discharge.

RESULTS

After adjusting for covariates, risk of inadequate or excessive GWG was not associated with being a border resident, but Hispanic women compared to NH White women had an increased risk of inadequate GWG (AOR = 1.21, 99% confidence interval [CI] [1.17, 1.26]) and decreased risk of excessive GWG (AOR = 0.77, 99% CI [0.74, 0.79]). Risk of cesarean birth was increased for border residents (AOR = 1.22, 99% CI [1.05, 1.42]), and this risk was increased further among border residents who were Hispanic (AOR = 1.52, 99% CI [1.30, 1.77]).

CONCLUSION

We found strengths and vulnerabilities among Hispanic and border-residing women. Hispanic women were at lower risk of excessive GWG than NH White women. Border-residing Hispanic women were at greater risk of cesarean birth than other women.